Polyaxial Lateral Offset Connector

Abstract

A polyaxial offset lateral connector includes a body, an insert, and a connecting shaft. The body has a base that defines a receptacle and walls that extend from the base to define a saddle. The insert includes a cup and a pin that extends from a bottom surface of the cup. The connecting shaft has a connection portion and a neck extending from the connecting shaft to a ball. The ball is received within the receptacle of the body and defines a pin passage therethrough. The pin is the insert is received within the pin passage of the ball to prevent translation of the connecting shaft relative to the body.

1 . A polyaxial offset lateral connector comprising:
 a body having a base defining a receptacle and walls extending from the base to define a saddle;   an insert including a cup and a pin extending from a bottom surface of the cup; and   a connecting shaft having a connection portion extending away from a ball, the ball received within the receptacle of the body and defining a pin passage therethrough, the pin of the insert received within the pin passage of the ball to prevent translation of the connecting shaft relative to the body.   
     
     
         2 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes retention tabs extending from side surfaces of the cup, the retention tabs received within the walls of the body to retain the insert within the body such that the pin received within the pin passage. 
     
     
         3 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector of  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes locking tabs configured to engage a portion of the connecting shaft to fix the connecting shaft relative to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector of  claim 1 , wherein the walls of the body of the polyaxial offset lateral connector includes a threaded inner portion configured to threadably receive a set screw. 
     
     
         5 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the body of the polyaxial offset lateral connector defines a side opening that is in communication with the receptacle, the side opening sized and dimensioned to permit a portion of the connecting shaft to pass into the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the ball includes engagement features configured to engage the walls of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement features of the ball are further configured to resist movement of or fix the connecting shaft relative to the body. 
     
     
         8 . The polyaxial offset lateral connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a neck extending from the connecting shaft to the ball. 
     
     
         9 . A spinal construct comprising:
 a spinal rod defining a longitudinal axis;   one or more screws configured to secure the spinal rod to a spine of patient such that the spinal rod extends along the spine; and   a polyaxial offset lateral connector including:
 a body having a base defining a receptacle and walls extending from the base to define a saddle, the saddle configured to secure the body to the spinal rod; 
 an insert including a cup and a pin extending from a bottom surface of the cup; and 
 a connecting shaft having a connection portion extending away from a ball, the ball received within the receptacle of the body and defining a pin passage therethrough, the pin of the insert received within the pin passage of the ball to prevent translation of the connecting shaft relative to the body; the connecting portion extending away from the ball in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         10 . The spinal construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the insert includes retention tabs extending from side surfaces of the cup, the retention tabs received within the walls of the body to retain the insert within the body with the pin received within the pin passage. 
     
     
         11 . The spinal construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the insert includes locking tabs configured to engage a portion of the connecting shaft to fix the connecting shaft relative to the body. 
     
     
         12 . The spinal construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more screws includes a taper lock head configured to secure the one or more screw to the spinal rod without a set screw. 
     
     
         13 . The spinal construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the walls of the body of the polyaxial offset lateral connector includes a threaded inner portion configured to threadably receive a set screw. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the base of the body of the polyaxial offset lateral connector defines a side opening that is in communication with the receptacle, the side opening sized and dimensioned to permit a portion of the connecting shaft to pass into the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The spinal construct according to  claim 9 , wherein an outer surface of the ball includes engagement features configured to engage the walls of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The spinal construct of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement features of the ball are further configured to resist movement of or fix the connecting shaft relative to the body. 
     
     
         17 . The spinal construct of according to  claim 9 , further comprising a neck extending from the connecting shaft to the ball. 
     
     
         18 . A method of securing spinal construct to a spine of a patient, the method comprising:
 securing a first screw to a first vertebra of the spine;   securing a second screw to a second vertebra of the spine;   securing a spinal rod in a head of the first screw and a head of the second screw, the spinal rod extending along the spine; and   receiving the spinal rod in a saddle of a polyaxial offset lateral connector, the polyaxial offset lateral connector including:
 a body having a base defining a receptacle and walls extending from the base to define the saddle, the saddle configured to secure the body to the spinal rod; 
 an insert including a cup and a pin extending from a bottom surface of the cup; and 
 a connecting shaft having a connection portion extending away from a ball, the ball received within the receptacle of the body and defining a pin passage therethrough, the pin of the insert received within the pin passage of the ball to prevent translation of the connecting shaft relative to the body; the connecting portion extending away from the ball in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising securing a third screw to the second vertebra of the spine and receiving the connection portion of the connecting shaft in a head of the third screw. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a neck extends from the connecting shaft to the ball.